During the UFC Fight Night event at Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on March 30, 2024, a middleweight bout between Jacob Malkoun and Andre Petroski took a bizarre turn resulting in a second-round TKO victory for Malkoun.
The fight saw Petroski, a Renzo Gracie Philly product, attempting a takedown when his head collided with Malkoun's hip, causing a concussive effect that sent Petroski to the mat. Subsequently, Malkoun landed a kick to Petroski's side followed by a series of hammerfists, prompting the referee to stop the fight as Petroski was unable to continue.
Despite winning the first round on all three judges' scorecards, Petroski, a celebrated collegiate wrestler, suffered his second consecutive TKO defeat in the UFC. His previous loss came in October 2023 against Michel Pereira.
Malkoun, an Australian fighter, improved his professional record to 8-3 with the win, making his UFC record 4-3. Notably, his last two fights have ended in unusual circumstances, with a previous loss against Cody Bundrage due to an illegal elbow.
The peculiar nature of Petroski's defeat, largely self-inflicted due to the collision during the takedown attempt, raises the possibility of a rematch between the two fighters in the future.
